The Arizona Coyotes announced a Nick Bjugstad contract on July 1st. Bjugstad has signed a new contract for two years with an average cap hit of $2.1 million. This contract carries the veteran forward through the 2024-25 season.
Nick Bjugstad Contract Signed
The soon-to-be 31-year-old has played for the Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild and Edmonton Oilers over his 11-year NHL career. Bjugstad recorded 17 goals and 12 assists for 29 points in 78 games this season. He had a Corsi for 43.8 and a relative Corsi of -11.9. The Minneapolis native came over from the Coyotes to the Oilers at the trade deadline.
Bjugstad has 127 goals and 139 assists for 266 points in 618 career games. Florida originally drafted him in the first round, 19th overall of the 2010 NHL Draft. His best goal-scoring season was the 2014-15 season when he notched 24 goals. However, his most points came in the 2017-18 season with 49. Both of those seasons came while with the Florida Panthers.
The veteran centre has represented his native United States on the international level. He played for the bronze-medal winning squad at the 2011 IIHF World Juniors. Bjugstad also got bronze at the senior level at the 2013 IIHF World Championships. He played college hockey at the University of Minnesota. The Minnesota native was a former Minnesota Mr. Hockey in 2009-10.
Impact of Nick Bjugstad Contract
Bjugstad also scored three goals during the Oilers’ Stanley Cup Playoff run. He did a solid job on the bottom-part of the lineup. The veteran can help out as a depth forward if needed. He’s also a big body at 6-feet, 6-inches and 218 pounds. Bjugstad contributes mostly with the body, but can chip a goal or two in the bottom-six forward group.
Most teams would love to have a veteran forward like him in the locker room. His performance with the Oilers last season may have given him a chance at scoring a decent contract.
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